]]>Derek Coughlin is Superior Glove’s Key Industry Manager – Automotive and Metal. He’s worked in the automotive safety industry for 17 years — 9 of those years with Superior Glove. We sat down with Derek as part of our expert interview seriesto discuss safety culture, glove innovation, and trends in the automotive industry.

There is a lot of challenge in the automotive industry because there is just so much going on — palm coatings for assembly, knitted gloves for metal handling, lint-free gloves for paint jobs, anti-vibration for grinding, it’s endless. There’s one plant I am working in right now that is 6 million square feet where they need protection from grinding and cut resistance but they also need dexterity. That’s a tough one.

So what do you do in that situation?

We have to look at the specific end-user. A lot of the time they aren’t using gloves or they’re using something that isn’t right. In this case, they weren’t using a glove with any anti-vibration properties, so choosing a glove that does makes a lot of difference. That’s where the innovation in that new STAGPNVPIglove is really good.

Can you speak a bit more to the innovation side of things:

Automotive is a challenge but it’s also one of the biggest opportunities for innovation. In that situation they needed dexterity and they needed anti-vibration. A heavily padded glove might be more beneficial for grinding but they’ll lose dexterity and their hands will be tired from using it all day.

Does having a situation with that many different things going on encourage glove innovation?

For sure, my goal when they have a lot of gloves is to try and consolidate it as much as possible. An end-user might have three gloves doing similar tasks, when they could be using one.

Other times it means getting inventive. One of our end-users in St Louis had a high-heat glove but there was a lot of heat coming in from the back. So we took the glove they were using, found our version and added an aluminized backing. That solved the problem. Then we put a leather palm on it, now the glove is lasting four times longer. The automotive industry presents huge challenges but that’s also where the opportunity to make new gloves comes in.

So what’s the safety culture like in the auto industry?

In terms of safety culture, the automotive industry is very aware, probably more aware than any other industry. They know their stuff and they promote safety. At the end of the day, it comes down to cost; it costs money to stay safe but prevention is a soft cost.

What are your biggest successes for automotive gloves?

The knitted products are still big but one of the gloves that I pull out of the package now is our STAGBPU, its a polyurethane-coated cut-level A4 glove. That seems to be where a lot of the plants are going because they want the dexterity, they want the cut [protection and], they want the grip.

Silicone creates these craters if it gets in the paint and you’ll see the craters on the car. It costs thousands of dollars to decontaminate the plant plus the cost of wasted product. So we have to be aware of the product because silicone can be found in the palm coating, the elastic at the wrist, or a coating on the yarn itself. The full-on silicone bans happen because contamination can even happen during the laundering process.

A lot of companies don’t consider washing their gloves, is that something you suggest?

Well, it’s either you do it or someone else will. Two years ago, companies just tried driving cost down as much as possible. I don’t bother talking about the cost anymore, I focus on longevity. If the glove comes down to price then you’re taking something out. You can pay $3 for a glove but you only get one wash out of it or you can pay $7 for a glove that gets you 10 washes. That’s huge cost savings and this is the mentality that everyone has to think about.

(Want to see some of the gloves Superior Glove offers for the automotive industry? Click the button below for a helpful infographic!)

]]>The curse: You have a pair of gloves that are perfect, they have amazing grip, good protection and great dexterity. But quicker than you can flip the calendar to November, the temperature starts dropping. You don’t want to switch this glove out for a winterized option that may not be as perfect. But don’t worry, there’s good news!

This isn’t a Hardy Boys mystery, the solution is simple. Get a glove liner for cold weather!

Cold weather glove liner options:

Moisture-Wicking Properties:

As we covered in our post The Secret to Picking the Perfect Winter Work Gloves, the quickest way to ruin your work day is with wet, sweaty hands. These liners are made with Thermolite®, a moisture-wicking polyester fiber that lets them dry 20% faster than comparable fibers and 50% faster than cotton. This 13-gauge liner pushes sweat away so your skin temperature doesn’t fluctuate, keeping you warm and toasty all day long.

Layer up:

Moisture-wicking properties are important, but they can only do so much. By adding a second layer of material, you increase the insulation between you and the cold. Wool is the most famous material for this, but it can add extra bulk.

An engineered co-polymer like ComFortrel® is a great option like in our Arctic Knit Glove Liner. Along with moisture-wicking properties, these liners are slim and fit neatly underneath work gloves.

Extra Winter Protection:

We’ve focused on liners to fit under standard shaped work wear. But wearing those liners under a glove like our Endura® One-finger Lineman Mitts would not be comfortable.

]]>http://www.superiorglove.com/pages/blog/are-you-attending-the-fastenal-employee-expo/feed/0Choose Glove Coatings like a Prohttp://www.superiorglove.com/pages/blog/choose-glove-coatings-like-a-pro/
http://www.superiorglove.com/pages/blog/choose-glove-coatings-like-a-pro/#respondThu, 01 Dec 2016 17:01:28 +0000http://www.superiorglove.com/pages/?p=15774Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask.

]]>Have you ever heard the term “information overload”? It’s the anxiety we feel when trying to understand a topic but there is too much information available. It’s not uncommon to feel that way when choosing between glove coatings.

A coating is a great addition to a glove because it increases grip and provides better abrasion, cut, puncture or chemical protection. But each palm coating has its strong suits and weak spots. The goal of this blog is to showcase different glove coatings, so the next time you’re choosing a coated glove, you’ll know exactly what to use.

Nitrile

Coating Description:

Nitrile is popular as an alternative to latex for people with allergies. Great for industries like assembly, automotive and metal fabrication.

Strength:

High abrasion resistance

Good substitute to latex for those with allergies

Performs well between -25°F (-4°C) and 300°F (149°C) temperatures

Weakness:

Doesn’t have a strong grip in oily and wet conditions compared to foam or micropore nitrile

ZedCoat™

Coating Description:

ZedCoat™ is a nitrile glove coating, but this one is available only by Superior Glove. Great for automotive, aerospace and glass industries, ZedCoat™ has very high abrasion resistance and grip.

Strength:

Very high abrasion resistance

Good grip in wet and dry conditions

No soak through unlike micropore or foam nitrile

Weakness:

Poor with adhesives

Foam Nitrile

Coating Description:

Nitrile can be foamed through mechanical mixing to create a coating that acts like a sponge. Liquids are soaked up, keeping the coating dry to considerably improve grip. Foam nitrile is great for industries like automotive, construction and small parts handling.

Strength:

Excellent breathability and dexterity

Has good grip in wet and oily conditions

Has a moderate abrasion resistance

Weakness:

Not great with adhesives

Liquids will penetrate through the coating as designed

Micropore Nitrile

Coating Description:

Infused with millions of tiny bubbles, micropore nitrile increases grip by creating a suction to displace liquids. Great for industries where good grip is needed like automotive, manufacturing and metal fabrication.

Strength:

Great grip in oily and wet conditions

High abrasion level

Lower soak through rate than foam nitrile

Weakness:

Poor grip in adhesives

Neoprene

Coating Description:

Neoprene is a synthetic rubber made by the polymerization of chloroprene. Neoprene has good chemical stability and has good heat-resistant properties. This coating is generally used on gloves for chemical-resistant and fire-retardant applications.

Strength:

Excellent dry, wet and oily grip

Good flame-resistance properties

Good oil resistance

Weakness:

Low abrasion resistance

Polyurethane

Coating Description:

Polyurethane is a fan favorite because it’s relatively inexpensive, doesn’t inhibit dexterity and has a low-particulate shed. This glove coating is perfect for industries like aerospace, detailed assembly and inspection.

Strength:

High level of comfort

Lightweight and flexible

Great dry grip

Weakness:

Poor grip in wet and oily conditions

Low puncture resistance

Latex

Coating Description:

Latex gets a bad rap because of the allergies associated with this coating. But latex is great in industries like masonry, landscaping and construction because of its excellent grip and durability.

Strength:

Good dry grip

Flexible and soft coating

Weakness:

Sensitive to heat

Poor oil resistance

Low abrasion resistance

Risk of protein allergies

PVC

Coating Description:

The short-form for polyvinyl chloride, PVC is the world’s third-most widely produced synthetic plastic polymer. Great for industries like furniture making, petrochemical industry and wood working.

Strength:

The best option for adhesives

Excellent choice for cold weather

Good abrasion resistance

Weakness:

Low puncture resistance

Are you feeling oddly confident and relaxed? That’s not surprising. The number one cure for information overload is to simplify and clarify the contents. Congratulations on becoming a glove coating pro!

(Think one of these glove coatings would work for your team? Get a FREE sample by click the button on the corresponding glove!)

]]>http://www.superiorglove.com/pages/blog/choose-glove-coatings-like-a-pro/feed/0Who Pays for PPE — Employer or Employee?http://www.superiorglove.com/pages/blog/who-pays-for-ppe/
http://www.superiorglove.com/pages/blog/who-pays-for-ppe/#respondWed, 30 Nov 2016 16:01:22 +0000http://www.superiorglove.com/pages/?p=14841We do the research so you don't have to!

]]>I saw a Reddit thread the other day asking the question “who pays for PPE? Is it an employee or the employer?” The replies were varied but none were definite. So with the safety bat signal in the air and people pleading for help, I hit the books.

“Who likes brushing up on labor laws? I do, apparently.”

Here’s what I found:

It depends on where you live:

The United States:

Canada:

Not only does Canada not have a definitive piece of federal legislation, the laws that do exist avoid the purchasing question altogether. With few exceptions, it is up to the provinces and territories to put their own laws in place.

Some provinces, like British Columbia, spell it out that a worker is responsible for providing:

Clothing needed for protection against the natural elements.

General purpose work gloves.

Appropriate footwear including safety footwear.

Safety headgear.

The employer must provide all other items of PPE required by legislation at no cost to the worker.

Other provinces, like Ontario, confuse both employers and employees on the topic. Section 25 of the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Act says that employers must ensure the equipment, materials and protective devices as prescribed are provided.

“This is a picture I took after falling down the rabbit hole of Canadian labor laws.”

Provide means “make available”:

Don Brown, Ministry Of Labour specialist stated in an interview with ohscanada.com “the legislation does not legally define the word “provide,” many lay people believe that provide means pay, but without a legal definition, we can only look to the Oxford dictionary.” It defines “provide” as to cause to have possession or use of, to supply, make available. By default this places the burden on the worker.

What does it all mean?

The simplest answer is that it means employees who are trying to pay for food, rent and car loans are also getting stuck with the bill for staying safe at work. The onus of complying with company safety policy or provincial regulations shifts to the individual.

It also means that the employer isn’t necessarily controlling what safety equipment is being used and that there may not be standardized PPE being worn on work sites.

As we discussed in our article The 7 Dangers of Rogue Glove Buyingthis leads to higher costs and means workers are looking at the bottom line instead of selecting the PPE that will properly protect them on the job.

]]>Mark the time; today will go down in history with the rest of these world’s firsts. This date will henceforth be known as the day that the S18KGNE Dexterity® Flame-Resistant Arc Flash Gloves with Neoprene Palms was released.

What makes this glove so special?

Never before has an arc flash glove been this thin! This is the world’s first — and only — 18-gauge arc flash-rated glove.

Tested for arc flash level 2, these gloves have an Arc Thermal Protective Value of 8.2 cal/cm². Meaning that they can withstand 8.2 calories of heat per cm² of fabric and still prevent the onset of a second-degree burn.

“When the International Association for Test Materials developed an arc flash test (ASTM F2675), the decision was to rate a glove based on the least protective area — like the back of the hand. So a glove may be rated for 8 cal/cm² of arc flash protection, but the palm coating can give up to 50 cal/cm² of protection. So palm coatings are great news for arc flash protection since the palm and fingertips are where the most heat occurs in many arc flashes.”

What else does the glove offer?

Along with better dexterity than any other arc flash-rated glove, the S18KGNE also has:

1,125 grams of cut protection for ANSI A3 cut rating.

Touchscreen compatibility.

Latex free to limit the risk of allergic reactions — like all of our Canadian-made gloves.

Want to learn more? Watch the video below:

Think the world’s only 18-gauge arc flash-rated glove will work for your company? Get a FREE sample by clicking the button below!

]]>We’ve waited all year for this day, it’s Black Friday shopping! That means it’s time for standing in line, pushing to the front of the crowd and diving in head first to grab the last of the latest and greatest must-have gift.

This day is not for the faint of heart. But if you’re committed and have a game plan, here’s how Superior Glove can help you come out the other side of the busiest shopping day of the year unscathed.

This video by the Salt Lake Tribune was the tamest Black Friday shopping video on YouTube and it still looks like mayhem is ready to start at any moment.

1. Go Covert with Camo Gloves:

Black Friday shopping can feel a bit like a stealth mission. You have to move from point A to point B, grab the gift, and get back out again before another shopper finds your position. We’ve got you covered.

Our Superior Touch® Camo print nylon gloves let you hide in plain sight. Polyurethane offers a great tactile feel and they have excellent dexterity when rummaging through a bin of hot sale items. They’re comfortable, flexible and lightweight too.

2. Resist Bumps and Bruises with Anti-Impact Gloves:

Black Friday shopping is a full contact sport, it’s almost as if the stores plan it that way. Needless to say, if you’re participating in this shopping experience, expect a few bumps and bruises by the end of the day.

With Dexterity® Anti-Impact Cut-Resistant gloves, you’ll have great hand protection. Now you can work your way through a crowd knowing that the back-of-hand protection is there to keep your hands safe.

3. Baby, it’s Cold Outside! Dexterity® Winter Gloves Help:

If you’ve ever stood in line for a Midnight Madness sale then you know just how a cold gust of wind can make you question your commitment to holiday shopping. But with Dexterity® winter-lined gloves, you’ll stay warm as toast… and they’re festive red!

These winter gloves have a lot going for them:

15-gauge nylon on the outside and soft fleece on the inside.

They’re great against accidents such as punctures (you can never be too safe around the needles of a Christmas tree).

Remember: Just because you’re taking a holiday doesn’t mean that safety will be.

In honor of Thanksgiving, we chose three of our favorite gloves and figured out how they could be incorporated into preparing Thanksgiving dinner.

Making Stuffing:

While everyone claims that their grandma makes the best stuffing, every recipe is pretty much the same thing:

White bread

Onions

Celery

Seasoning

Love (The Secret Ingredient)

But all of that stuff needs to be chopped up — probably while your sister-in-law, Kathy, makes passive-aggressive comments about the decor in your living room.

Take the risk out of accidentally cutting something — like your hand — with our Sure Knit® Cut-Resistant Food Industry Glove. With 4,330 grams of cut protection, these FDA compliant gloves don’t mess around. They are also treated with Ultra-Fresh for a 99.9% antimicrobial status and are easily laundered.

Even Kathy won’t be able to judge your choose of hand protection!

Pie Removal:

Have you ever dropped apple pie filling right out of the oven on your bare hand? It feels like molten lava.

You could use a standard oven mitt to take the pies out of the oven. But here are two problems with that:

Mitts are less dexterous than gloves and you want to handle those precious desserts with care.

There’s enough things to clean after Thanksgiving dinner without having to worry about washing the pie filling off your oven mitts.

Our Chemstop™ Terry-lined Neoprene Glovesare the perfect solution to this proverbial pickle. With heat protection up to 390° F and a diamond-grip finish to the palm increase grip, the neoprene dip makes cleaning them a breeze.

As an added bonus, they have flame resistant properties and will tolerate brief exposure to flame… in case your baking skills are a bit rusty.

Turkey Carving:

It’s 2016, Thanksgiving is going to be a bit unconventional and what’s more unconventional than this suggestion for carving the turkey?

Let’s set the scene:

After a couple of glasses of wine, Uncle Ted offers to divvy up the turkey. With electric turkey carver in hand, Ted lines up the first cut and presses the trigger on the carver. The blade starts spinning and next thing you know Ted has nicked the back of his hand. Effectively ruining Thanksgiving dinner.

This could have been prevented with our Endura® Hi-Viz Cut-Resistant Chainsaw Gloves. Lined with eight layers of woven Kevlar® on the back of the left hand, these gloves are designed to stop a chainsaw running at 3,140 feet per minute.

So they’ll be able to stop Uncle Ted with his trigger-happy finger and Black and Decker electric knife!

So there you have it, 3 gloves to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. For our friends not celebrating Thanksgiving today, replace the word Thanksgiving with Christmas and read this post in a month!

]]>http://www.superiorglove.com/pages/blog/3-perfect-glove-for-thanksgiving/feed/0Cut-Proof Gloves and Other Misconceptions About Cut Resistancehttp://www.superiorglove.com/pages/blog/cut-proof-gloves-misconceptions/
http://www.superiorglove.com/pages/blog/cut-proof-gloves-misconceptions/#commentsWed, 23 Nov 2016 15:33:17 +0000http://www.superiorglove.com/pages/?p=15192Do you know the facts from the fiction?

]]>You already know that 70 percent of workers who experienced hand injuries were not wearing gloves and that the other 30 percent were wearing the wrong type of glove. According to our sales team, cut-resistant gloves seem to be one of the most confusing topics. So today on the blog we’re focusing on misconceptions about cut-resistant gloves to clear up any uncertainty.

What are cut-proof gloves?

Cut-proof gloves are the unicorns of the safety world — no, not magical and wonderful. I mean entirely mythical. There is no such thing as a cut-proof glove. If there was we would only manufacture and sell one glove and it would be called the “Perfect Glove 3000” and this job would be pretty boring.

What we manufacture is a cut-resistant glove and there are different levels of cut resistance based on the hazards the worker is facing.

Even though cut-proof gloves don’t exist, gloves designed to be cut-resistant are sometimes misinterpreted as being cut proof. This gives us, as workers, a false sense of security and we become overly confident and endanger ourselves by performing tasks we would not otherwise perform.

They’re called cut-resistant gloves because realistically cuts can still occur. But by wearing a cut-resistant glove, a cut that required stitches becomes a cut that needs a band-aid.

So we know cut-proof gloves don’t exist but what about performing a field test to see how cut-resistant a glove really is?

Makeshift cut test methods:

These field tests might be taking a pair of scissors or a table saw or a machete to a glove — our sales team has heard it all — and being dissatisfied that the glove didn’t hold up.

But it’s not surprising.

Cut-resistant gloves are not designed to stop a pair of scissors (or those other test tools). They are tested and rated based on the standards set by American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) ASTM F2992 cut test.

The science behind the ANSI’s test method is to measure the cut resistance of a material against a razor blade under a specified load on a TDM-100 machine.

The test accounts for measuring errors by using a new blade each time the test is run since a dull blade would need more force to cut through the material.

The problem we find with performing a cut-resistance test in the field is that they are not realistic.

A pair of scissors will most certainly cut through a glove, even the “Perfect Glove 3000” cut-proof gloves. But how often does the cut hazard a worker is facing come from a pair of scissors cutting through their pinky finger?

Leather gloves are cut resistant:

The main reason we need cut-resistant gloves is that our skin cuts very easily. Since leather is just the skin of an animal, it cuts just as easily. Some leather gloves like our Endura® Oilbloc™ Goatskin Anti-Impact Driver Gloves are cut resistant, but that is thanks to a Kevlar® lining.

Only the palm is cut resistant:

This misconception is a little different because there are some gloves where only the palm of the glove is cut resistant. For instance, our Dexterity® Cotton Glove with Hi-Viz Latex Palmhas an impressive ANSI A5 cut level on the palm because of the Punkban™ lining.

As a general rule, cut resistant gloves will give 360 degree protection by using high performance yarns like Kevlar®, Dyneema®or TenActiv™. These yarns give five to ten times the cut protection of leather and are considerably stronger than steel on an equal-weight basis.

A coating will increase the glove’s cut resistance slightly but only in the area where the coating is applied (usually the palm, unless the glove is fully coated).

As a way to significantly increase the cut protection and make sure it is still 360 degree protection, we use engineered composite yarns.

What are engineered composite yarns?

Engineered yarns are made using two or more components (ie. Kevlar® and steel). These gloves can offer twenty times the cut resistance of comparable-weight leather gloves.

These gloves are needed in a variety of jobs in the pulp and paper, butchery and metal stamping industries.

Adding steel to a high performance yarn is like reinforcing concrete with steel rebar. It’s making something that’s already strong even stronger.

The highest rating = the best rating:

So cut-proof gloves don’t exist but surely the glove that has the highest cut resistance must be the best glove, right?

WRONG!

This probably seems pretty basic but it’s worth repeating: The best rated glove is the one that protects against the hazards you face. A worker who uses a box cutter once a day won’t need the same protection as someone who works in metal stamping eight hours a day.

Using a glove designed for heavy-duty cut protection for a light-duty application has a snowballing effect: if a worker has less dexterity in the glove, they won’t be able to do their job right. If they can’t do their job right, they won’t wear the glove and then compliance takes a hit. Then the risk of hand injury skyrockets!

]]>You know the feeling. It’s a few seconds after the initial pain of yanking your hand back from touching something hot. You start shaking your hand, trying to flick the pain off your skin. As the pain starts subsiding, it’s replaced by a pulsation under the skin like the burn has a tiny heartbeat.

That type of burn could be minor, leading to some redness and inflammation of the skin. But burns can be much more severe, resulting in infection or nerve damage.

It’s an awful feeling that you could have prevented with the right heat-resistant protection.

So how do you select the right protection?

By knowing what questions you need to ask. That’s the aim of the Beginner’s Guide to Heat Resistance.

1. How are heat ratings measured?

Let’s start with some background information by looking at how we measure heat ratings.

North American Standard (ASTM F1060):

As we covered in our heat resistance infographic, this test measures the conductive heat resistance of a material to determine its thermal insulation properties for contact with hot surfaces.

The glove’s rating is determined by the highest contact temperature where time to second degree burn is over 15 seconds and time to pain is over 4 seconds.

The standard rates the material between level 1 (under 176°F) and level 5 (608°F). Note: While the test stops at 608°F, the glove may have higher thermal protection.

The European Standard (EN 407:2004):

This standard includes six thermal tests: burning behavior, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat and the small and large splashes of molten metal.

We are focusing on the North American standard, but Hannah Althorpe’s article Handling Extreme Temperature is an excellent resource on the European standard.

2. How hot is it?

Now you know how heat-resistant gloves are measured, but what about the thermal temperature of the items you’re touching?

It’s important to be accurate with the reading (don’t try to estimate). The easiest way to do this is with an Infrared Thermometer.

This step is critical for two reasons:

If you overestimate the heat of an object to “play is safe,” you may get a glove has too much insulation. This makes the glove bulky and will limit dexterity.

By underestimating the heat of the object, you’re putting yourself at risk for burns. You may also have to spend more money due to lost-time injuries.

3. What is the most heat-resistant material?

There are two main options for heat-resistant gloves: terry knit and synthetic material. Selecting the right material depends on the heat of the thermal temperature.

Natural Materials:

The best option for heat resistance below 450°F is natural materials like terry cloth. The terry is “looped” when knitted which traps air to create an excellent insulator.

The protection terry cloth offers may not seem like much, but who hasn’t used a dish cloth to take something out of the oven after misplacing an oven mitt?

The dish cloth and a terry-knit glove use the same material. As long as there aren’t risk of cut or puncture this inexpensive style of glove is a great option.

Synthetic Materials:

Synthetic materials like Kevlar® are the best option for heat-resistance for temperatures over 450°F .

Terry fabric begins charring at these higher temperatures, so synthetic materials work well as a shell over top of the terry lining.

Liquid Protection:

A neoprene glove is the best bet for protecting against steam or hot liquids. This synthetic rubber resists degradation and has a burning point of 500°F.

4. What are your work conditions?

There is not a single perfect heat-resistant work glove. Every industries have conditions to consider when choosing the right glove for your workplace.

The type of heat:

Dry vs. Moist: The difference between a string-knit or a neoprene-dipped glove.

Thermal vs. Ambient: Is it through direct contact or the temperature in the room?

Is there open flame or spark?: If so, you’ll need a glove treated with a fire-retardant chemical.

Are there other hazards? Heat may be the primary concern but in industries like metal stamping there may be risk for cut or puncture. Synthetic fibers like Kevlar® provide good cut protection. Silicone palm coating like Temperbloc™ can increase puncture resistance and provide grip.

5. Are there other factors to consider?

We’ve covered the importance of knowing the temperature, identifying working conditions and selecting materials. But there are a few more things to consider:

How heavy is the item? A fifty pound piece of steel needs a lot more contact to move than a five pound piece.

Is there cool down time? The glove will trap heat. If there isn’t time for it to cool down between uses, the user will begin to feel heat through the glove. If the application occurs on a regular basis, a glove with more insulation is required.

How long will you be holding onto the item? The longer you handle an item, the more heat will transfer from the object to your PPE.

How important is dexterity? The more insulation a glove has, the less movement a hand will have. Try on a few gloves in the required heat protection range to find the one that allows for the most movability.

6. Is protection needed above the wrist?

Now your hands are safe but what about something to protect your arms?

Sleeves aren’t designed for prolong heat contact, but fibers like Kevlar® will work for incidental contact. That’s enough time for the mind to process “ouch, this hurts” and move away from the hot surface. That layer of protection is the difference between a second degree burn and mild irritation.

7. Now what?

By thinking about the above factors you can select the correct type of PPE for your industry.

Finding the best protection is a balancing act, but it doesn’t have to be an inconvenient trade-off between comfort and protection.

(Want an expert to help you figure out which heat-resistant glove is right for your workplace? Have a Superior Glove hand protection specialist visit your facility for FREE by clicking the button below.)